The Pine Creek Rail Trail runs for 62 miles from Wellsboro Junction to Jersey Shore using the rail bed that once hauled celery, lumber, and ginseng to market. The Trail is popular with tourists, Boy Scout Troops earning bicycling badges, and local residents staying healthy by biking and walking.
One need at the northern end of the Trail is for more access and for rest areas. The Northcentral Pennsylvania Conservancy and Bureau of Forestry are working to create a new Trail access, wildlife viewing area, and Trail rest area.
People have said they’d like to have a place they can sit and watch wildlife, as well as just taking a break to enjoy the day. In this stretch the Trail runs along Marsh Creek and a large wetland complex (known as the Muck). The Trail is bordered on both sides by private land with the Bureau of Forestry in charge of maintaining the Trail.
There was an opportunity to purchase 132 acres along the Trail. The Northcentral Pennsylvania Conservancy purchased the property and is looking for partners (individuals, groups, or companies) who want to help clean-up the property and get ready for trail use.
The property’s ecological features include wetlands along Marsh Creek. The wetlands are extensive, fed by Canada Run, and close to wooded areas. This allows wildlife to use the wetlands and Creek by moving from the forest to the stream and wetlands and back. Marsh Creek is a major tributary to Pine Creek. The Bureau of Forestry plans to create a walking trail to allow people to see more of the wetlands, and hopefully see more wildlife.
There is some work to do before the property becomes useable as the Cavanaugh Access. There is household debris on the site and a house that isn’t in great shape.
These need to be cleaned up and removed from the property before a parking area, benches and walking trails can be constructed.
If you’d like to help clean up the site and get things ready for recreation, you can make a donation to the Northcentral Pennsylvania Conservancy. Checks can be mailed to NPC, PO Box 2083, Williamsport, PA 17703, or donated online by clicking below. Please be sure to note “Cavanaugh Access” with your donation. Questions can be directed to Reneé Carey, rcarey@npcweb.org, 570-323-6222.